Denture demonstrating apparatus



G. H. BURTENSHAW 2,203,891 Y DENTURE minous TRATING APPARATUS Filed April 1e, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l 27 GEORGE H. BURTENSHAW June U 1940, V G. H. BURTENSHAW 2,293,391

DENTURE DEMONS TRATING APPARATUS Filed April 16, 1957 4 Sheets-8heet 2 GEORGE H. B URTENS HAW Jim@ l1, Hl BURTENSHAW 203,39?

DENTURE DEMONSTRATING APPARATUS Filed April 16, 19.37

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June EL 10. G. H. BURTENSHAW 2,203,891

' DENTURE I'JEMONSTRATING APPARATUS,

Filed April 16, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 g5-y, 15 @gli Patented June 11, 1940 UNITED STATES- PATENT oFFicE 1 DENTURE nEMoNsTRATING APPARATUS George Henry Burtenshaw, Taumarunui,

` New Zealand Application April 16, 1937, Serial No.` 137,341

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to denture demonstrating devices, and more particularly has reference to devices for demonstrating the eifects 1 of gum shrinkage on the facial expression of a person having artificial dentures. 1

The structure herein disclosed is an improvement on the structure shown in my application,

vice fordemonstrating theehanges in the facial expression of a person havinguartificial dentures due to shrinkage of the human gums.

Another object of this invention is` to provide a device simulating a human face, including movable upper and lower lips, supports for articial dentures, and means for displacing said supports to correspond to the displacement of the human gums upon shrinkagethereof.

1 A further object of this invention is to provide a device comprising an upper jaw frame, an articial denture support ,carried by said jaw frame, .5 means for guiding and moving said support to simulate the .shrinkage` of the human gums, a lower jaw frame pivotally mounted -on the upper frame, a lower articial denture support carried by the lower jawfrarne, means for guiding and of the lower gums, and facial masks carried1 by the upper and lower jaw frames and provided with1 movable lip portions adapted to be shifted by the denture supports upon movement ofthe .W latter.

" Still another object of thisinvention is to provide a denture tray having a denture foundation carried thereby, means for displacing said foundation, and means for guiding said foundation in a rearward direction toward said tray to simu.- late shrinkage of the human` gums. 1 According to the invention, the denture demonstrating device comprises a member simulating an upper jaw and a member simulating a lower jaw, the lower jaw pivotally carried by the upper moving the lower support to simulate', shrinkage jaw, a facial mask carried by the upper jaw mem` ber, a lower jaw mask carried by the lower jaw@ having means for moving same in relation to said jaw member'to simulate-the shrinkage of the rlower gum, and means engaging the lip of the lower maskto hold said lip against said lower denture, whereby it will shift in correspondence with the displacement of said lower carrier.`

The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention and the views therein are; as follows:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a device `according to the present invention,

showing the parts in position prior to adjustment to indicate shrinkage of the gums.

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing the parts in position after adjustment to indicate shrinkage of the gums.

Fig. 3 is a `bottom View 0f an upper denture tray for attachment to the upper jaw frame.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line --ll of Fig. 3.

Fig..5 is a sectional view taken online 5 5 of Fig. 3.*

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the actuating Wedge.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the denture foundation. 1 1

Fig. 8 is a top View of the denture tray with the upper plate removed. 1

Fig. 9jis a sectional view taken on line 9--9 1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a front view of the device of Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 2. 1

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 `with the upper lip in normal position.

Fig. 14 is a front view of the device of Fig. 2. Fig. 1'5 is a view similar to Fig. 14 with the upper lip in normal position.

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectionalview of the lower 1, denture carrier and its operating means, and

Fig. 17 isa fragmentary lower plan View of the upper lip showing the cross bar for connecting said lip to the upper `.denture carrier.

The present invention differs from that shown and described inmy aforementioned10o-pending Vapplication in the provision of an upper facial mask ttedwith a movable lip on the upper jaw frame, and a lower mask `tted with a movable lip on the lower jaw frame. Anotherdiiference resides in the `provision of an upper denture tray having a denture foundation or support mounted for movement rearwardly and upwardly to simulate the shrinkage of the upper gums.

In describing the presentl invention, `only such of the structural details of the aforementioned co-pending application as are necessary to enable an understanding of the invention have been y A lower jaw frame 6 is mounted on the upperl jaw frame for pivotal movement about point 1, as described in the aforementioned co-pending application. The lower jaw frame is urged to a closed positon by means of a spring 8 extending between a rod 9 carried by the lower jaw frame and an upright member IIJ carriedby upper jaw frame I.

The lower jaw frame 6 is provided with means for adjustably supporting a lower denture, as described in. my aforementioned co-pending application. This means comprises a lower carrying plate I I provided with a downwardly extending peripheral flange I2, which is let into a recess I3 formed in the upper surface of the lower jaw frame. Plate I-I is mounted in frame 6 in a manner such that its surface level in relation thereto may be adjusted to different points while maintaining the, plate parallel to the jaw frame. For this purpose, plate I I is provided with a hollow boss I4 yprojecting from its underside,.whichv is slidablymounted in a guide bearing member I5 carried by the bottom I6 of the lower jaw frame 6. A screw-threaded member I1 is arranged' within the hollow boss I4 to freely rotate therein and threadedly engage a` threaded opening in the bottom I6, a portion of which extends through slots I8, as described in my aforementioned application. The other .details of the mechanism for raising and lowering` plate II are also described in said prior application. It sufces to state that by rotating the knob ISI,` the plate II may be raised and lowered relatively to lower jaw frame 6 and that plate II may be` secured in adjusted positions by means of set screw 20.

A denture tray 2l is attached to plate II in a suitable manner, as described in my prior application. Denture tray 2l supports a lower .denture 22 and has a forward projection 23 adapted to engage the lower lip of the manikin,

as will bedescribed hereinafter.

The upper denture tray 5, shown in detail in;

Figs. 3 to 9, comprises a` base plate 24 provided with `means for attaching it to plate 4, as described in my prior application. Secured to base plate 24 is amarginal plate 25 and a central plateA 26. Plates 25 and 26 cooperate to form a U-shaped recess in which the U-shaped gum simulating denture foundation 21 is slidably mounted, As more clearly shown in Fig. 7, the portion of the foundation 21 received in the U-shaped recess between plates 25 and 26 is of reduced crosssection and the forward part thereof is provided with an inclined surface 28. In Fig. 9, the relation between the inclined surface 28 .of foundation 21 and the inclined surface 29 of plate 25 is clearly shown. These inclined surfaces 28 and 29 and similar surfaces between the rear portion of member 21 and plate 26 cooperate to guide said foundation 21 for movement in an inclined forward downward and rearward upward direction.

Sockets 30 are formed in each side of member 21 to receive springs 3l held in placeand loaded ber 21. lthan the width of the bars to permit member 21 vto be displaced forwardly and rearwardly as it by screws 32. the head of screw 32 and the other end engages a shoulder for resiliently urging the foundation 21 toward plate 24.

Foundation 21 may be held away from plate 24 by any suitable means. One form of such means is shown in the drawings and comprises a pair of bars 33 provided with inclined surfaces 34 adapted to cooperate with inclined surfaces 35 formed in the portion of member 21 received in the recess between plates 25 and 2B; Bars 33 are accommodated in notches 35 formed in memkThese notches are of a width greater is moved away from plate 24 by the wedging action of bars 33. The bars are guided for longitudinal sliding movement in notches provided in the surface of plate 25 which contacts plate 24. An actuating bar 31 is connected to bars 33 and extends .through notches formed in member 21 and plate 25. A- screw 38 is carried by the free end of bar 31 and is adapted to receive a nut 39 which, when threaded onto screw 38 and screwed into engagement with the side edge of plate 24, draws bars 33 outwardly andcauses the cam surfaces 34 and 35 to displace member 21 against 'the action of springs 3I away from plate 24.

Due to inclined surfaces 28 and 29, the foundation is also shifted forwardly during this displacement. w

When the nut 39 is unthreaded from screw 38 and the bars 33 pushed inwardly, the foundation 21' is drawn toward plate 24 by the action of springs 3| and shifted .rearwardly by reason of the inclined surfaces between foundation 21 and plates 25 and 28. v'Ihis action simulates that which takes'place upon shrinkage of the human gums.

At this point it should be noted that the displaceable foundation 21 carries a hook 4I), the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

An upper artificial denture is adapted lto be received on thefoundation 21 and is held in place by a retaining arm 4I carried by a standard `42 and resiliently urged against the denture tray by a spring 43.

An upper facial mask 44 is fitted onto the skull y3. This mask has fixed features, with the exception of alip portion 45 which is pivotally mounted' for inward movement. Lip 45 has a projection'46, which extends up behind the nose of the mask and is provided with pins 41. These pins are received in suitable sockets formed in the surface behind the nose. The lip isl held in normal position and the pins 41 are retained in their sockets by a leaf spring 48. A loop 49, preferably of round wire (Fig. 17), is carried by the'rear surface of lip 45 and is engaged by hook 40. The parts are so constructed that lip 45 is in its forward normal position when wedge bars 33 are drawn out to displace foundation 21 forward and downward, as appears in Fig. 1. However, when the foundation 21 is retracted toward platev24 and rearwardly, the lip 45 is drawn inwardly as appears'in Fig. 2.

. A lower jaw mask 50 is fitted onto the lower `law frame 6 and is provided with a lip portion 5I.. The latter is formed with a thin lower edge which is received between the front lower edge of the mask and a leaf spring 52. The leaf spring urges the lip 5I inwardly against the projection 23 of the flower denture foundation.' `In Fig. 1, the lower denture foundation 2I is in an vupper normal position and i the projection -23 engages One end of each spring 3| engages lip l `near the upper portion thereof to hold it outwardly in its normal position. When the lower denture foundation is retracted down.- wardly to simulate gum` shrinkage,the projection 23` is lowered and the lip 5l falls inwardly, as shown` in Fig. 2. i i i i l l r The `width of the lowerjaw` frame 6 and mask 50 is less than that ofthe upper mask 44,`so` that the upward movement of the lower jawframeand mask will not be impeded by engagement with the `upper mask With this construction, the lowerdenture will contact the upper denture, regardless of the degree of raisingof the upper denture foundation and the degree @Flowering of the lower denture foundation. Thus, the lower jaw will move upwardly andoutwardly,` whereas thelipswill move linwardly upon retracting the upper and lower denture foundations, just as in the case of a person whose gums have shrunken.

As shown in the drawings, the movable lip `portions l5 and 5l of themasks MV and 5l) are formed of the same material as the masks, for example, metal, with the exception of the lips proper which are formed of rubber or other suitable elastic material. The normally` exposed front portions 53 and 53 of the elastic lips are preferably painted, so` that they will be the same color as the masks "44 "andyll To make the manikin appear more realistic, the red or` mucous membrane portions 54 and 541'` of the lips are colored red. The reference characters 53 and 54 are applied to the upper `lip 53! and Ell' `to the lower` lip.

Figs. l0 and l1 show front and side perspective views of the device adjusted to ,demonstrate properly fitting upperY and lower dentures with the mouth slightly open.. r r r Figs. 12 land 14 illustratethe expression assumed by a person having artificial dentures and whose upper and lower gums haveshrunken after the dentures `were fitted. It will be noted that the upper lip has fallen. inwardly and that the lower `jawis protruding.A This causes` the lower lip to project outwardly beyond ,the upper lip. Another point to be noted is that the distance between the nose and` thechin is much less than in the normal case cfligs. and 11. This l facial disiiguration is undesirable and can be co1'- rectedby the fitting of dentures made to come, pensate the gum shrinkage.

Figs. i3 and l5 illustrate `a case in which shrinkage has taken place only inthe lower gums, for instance, where the` upper denture is natural or is a properlyfitted artificial denture.` While this situation does notappear as ybad as that of Fig. l2, it will be noted that the` lower `jaw protrudes and the lower lip` hasfallen in to give an undesirable appearance.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides `a highly useful .device for demonstrating the actual effects lof r artificial dentures which, due to gum shrinkage,

do not properly fit. i Y r Of course, the `denture demonstrating apparatus illustrated and described herein may be modified and changed in various ways without departing from the invention herein set forth and hereafter claimed.

The invention is hereby claimed` as follows:

l. A device for demonstrating `the effect on the facial expression of shrinkage of human `gums fitted with artificial dentures, comprising r a member simulating the upper jaw, a member simulating a lower jaw pivotally carried by the upper jaw member, a facial mask carried by the upper'jaw member, `a lower jaw mask carried by the lower jaw member, each mask having li-p portions displaceable inwardly, an upper denture carrier mounted on the upper jaw member for upward movement on said member to` simulate the shrinkage j ofthe human` gums, means connecting said upper denture carrier to the'lip ofthe upper mask so that said lipwill be positively drawn inwardly in correspondence to the inward displacement of said carrier, a lower denture carrier mounted on the lower jaw member for downward movement on said member simulating the shrinkage of the gums, and means engaging the lip of the lower mask to hold said lip in positions corresponding to displacement of said lower carrier. r

.2. A device `for demonstrating the effect on the facial expression of shrinkage of human gums fitted with vartificial dentures, comprising amanikinliaving an upperjaw member; a lower jaw age, and means carried `by, the lower foundation forholding the lower lip in normal position and allowing said lip to fall inwardly upon downward movement of the lower denture foundation.

`3. A device for demonstrating the leffect on the facial expression of shrinkage of human gums fitted with artificial dentures, comprising a manikin having an upper jaw member, a lower jaw member pivoted to the'` upper jaw member and resiliently urgedto a closed position, an upper lipl member `.mounted on the upper,` jaw member forfmovement` inwardly from a normal position, a lower `lip member mounted for movement inwardlyfrom a normal position, upper andlower artificial denture foundations carried by the up-` per and lower jaw members respectively, manually operable means for retracting said upper denture foundation upwardly towards theupper jaw member and the lower denture downwardly towards thelower jaw member to simulate gum shrinkage *and allow the lower jaw to move closer to the upper jaw member, means operable upon retraction `of the `upper denture foundation to displace the `same inwardly and `means connecting tneupper denture foundation to the underlip for imparting inward movement'to said upper lipupon displacement of the upper foulidation, i i' 4.*A'device for demonstrating the effect on the facial expression of shrinkage of human gums fitted with artificial dentures, comprising pivoted `upper and lowerjaw members provided with movable lips, denture supporting means carried by `each jaw member and cooperating with the movable lips, means for retracting said upper and lowerf denture supporting means upwardly and downwardly respectively toward the respective jaw members tosimulate gum shrinkage and allow thelower jaw to move closer to the upper jaw, and means on the upper of said supporting means to draw theupper lip inwardly.

5l A` device for demonstrating the effect on the facial expression of shrinkage of human gums fitted with artificial dentures,` comprising a member simulating theupper jaw, a member simulating a lower jaw pivotally carried by the upper jaw member, meansy urging the lower jaw toward the upper jaw, a vdenture support carried by each jaw, dentures on said supports engaging each other to limit the movement of the lower jaw toward the upper jaw, and other means for displacing saidupper and lower supports upwardly and downwardly respectively toward the respective jaws to simulate gumshrinkage and to allow the lower jaw to move closer to the upper jaw and to a protruding position. 6. A device for demonstrating the effect on the facial expression of shrinkageof human gums `fitted witliartificial dentures, comprising a memper jaw member, means urging the lower jaw toward the upper jaw, a denture support carried by each jaw, dentures on said supports engaging each other to limit the Amovement of the lower jaw toward the upper jaw, means for'displacing said supports toward the respetive jaws to simulate gum shrinkage an-d to allow the lower jaw to move closer to the upper jaw and to a protruding position, a lip-like member carried by each jaw, and means extending between said denture supports and lips to eiect an inward movement of the lips upon displacing said support to a shrunken gum position.

7'. A demonstrating and-adjusting device for artificial dentures, comprising an upper jaw ,frame an upper denture, means for mounting I said denture in position on said frame, a lower jaw frame, meansl for pivotally mounting said lower jaw frame on the. upper jaw frame to simulate the human jaw structure, a lower denture carried by the lower jaw frame, means for freely adjusting the position of the lowerv denture in a substantially vertical directionvrelativelyto said lower jaw frame, guiding means for confining the movement of the lower denture to a fixedl substantially vertical direction relatively tothe lower jaw frame while maintaining the initial occlusal surface alignment of the lower `denture relatively to the lower jaw frame to simulate the displacement of an articial lower denture in the human mouth upon shrinkage of `the lower gums, a mask for the lower jaw provided with a lip member, and means associated with said lower ldenture for holding the lip in a normal vposition when the denture is in a normal position `and for allowing said lip member ti fall inwardly 'when said denture is displaced to a shrunken gum position. v

8. A denture tray for use in an artificial denture demonstrating and adjusting device, a denture foundation carried by said tray for supporting an artificial denture, means for guiding said foundation for movement in a fixed direction inclined relatively to the plane of thetray rear'- wardly toward and forwardly away from the tray while maintaining thesupporting surface of said foundation always in planes substantially parallel to each other, and means for displacing said foundation to desired positions.

9. A denture tray for use in an artificial denture demonstrating and adjusting device, a den- Ain planes substantially parallel to each other,

means urging said foundation toward said tray to simulate gum shrinkage, and means for displacing said foundation to positions away from said tray to simulatethe form of the human gums prior to shrinkage.v

10. AnY apparatus for demonstrating leffects on facial expression of shrinkage yof human gums fitted with artificial dentures, comprising a member simulatingthe upper jaw, a member pivotally mounted on the upper jaw member to simulate the lowerjaw, masks carried by each of said jaw members, a foundation member in each of said jaws, a denture carried by each of said foundation members, and separate means for independently moving said dentures in general vertical directions relative to said jawswhile maintaining their horizontal planes. y

11. An apparatus for demonstrating effects on facial expression of shrinkage of human gums fitted with artificial dentures, comprising a member simulating the upper jaw, a member pivotally 'mounted on the upper jaw member to simulate the lower jaw, masks carried by each of said jaw members, lip portions carried by each kof said masks and displaceable inwardly, afoundation member in each of said jaws, a denture `carried by each of said foundation members, and separate means for independently moving said dentures in general vertical directions relative `to said jaws while maintaining their horizontal planes.

12. An apparatus for demonstrating effects on facial expression of shrinkage of human gums tted with artificial dentures, comprising a member simulating the upper jaw, a member pivotally mounted on the upper jaw member to simulate the lower jaw, masks carried by each of said jaw members, a foundation member in` each of said jaws, a denture carried by each of said foundation members, and wedge-means for moving the upper denture from said upper jaw while maintaining same in a horizontal plane. i

13. A device for demonstrating the effect on facial expression of shrinkage of human gums fitted with artificial dentures, comprising a inanikin having an upper jaw member, alower jaw member pivoted to the upper jaw member and resiliently urged to a closed position, an upper lip member mounted on the upper jaw member for moving inwardly from a normal position, a lower lip member mounted for movement inwardly from a normal position, upper and lower artificial denture .foundations carried by the upper and lower jaw members respectively, manually operable means for retracting said denture foundations away from each other to simulate gum shrinkage and allow the lower jaw to move closer to the upperjaw member, and hook means on the upper foundation connecting said upper lip upon displacement `of the foundations," and spring means engaging the lower lip for imparting inward movement to said lower lips.

GEORGE HENRY BURTENSHAW. 

